by CRA Corporate Research Associates

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03 Jul 2013

Liberals Surge Under Trudeau in Atlantic Canada

HALIFAX: The Federal Liberal Party widened their lead this quarter, improving their standing in all four Atlantic Provinces, according to the most recent survey conducted by Corporate Research Associates Inc. This surge of support for the Liberals has come at the expense of both the Conservatives and the NDP and is the highest the party has seen in eight years. Support for the Liberal Party rests at one-half (49%, up from 34% three months ago), while one-quarter of decided voters prefer the Conservative Party (24%, down from 29%). Support for the NDP has also declined (24%, down from 31%), while two percent of Atlantic Canadians prefer the Green Party (compared with 4%). Under one-half (46%, compared with 47%) of residents in the region are undecided, refuse to state a preference, or do not plan to vote.

Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper’s popularity currently stands at 18 percent (down from 25% in February 2013). Meanwhile, preference for Thomas Mulcair of the NDP rests at under two in ten (15%, down from 20%). Justin Trudeau of the Liberal Party is preferred by four in ten Atlantic Canadians (42%, up from 21% in February 2013 when Bob Rae was interim leader), while Elizabeth May of the Green Party is preferred by four percent (down from 8%).

“The recent selection of Justin Trudeau as the new Leader of the Liberal Party, in conjunction with the recent senate scandal has led to a surge of support for the Liberals across Atlantic Canada,” according to Don Mills, Chairman and CEO of Corporate Research Associates. “This surge of support for the Liberals federally has also coincided with increases for Liberals at the provincial level.”

Dissatisfaction with the federal government has increased this quarter. Six in ten residents (62%, up from 58% in February 2013) are dissatisfied with the current performance of the federal government. Meanwhile, three in ten residents are satisfied (31%, compared with 33%), while less than one in ten do not offer a definite opinion (6%, down from 9%).

These results are part of the CRA Atlantic Quarterly®, an independent, quarterly survey of Atlantic Canadians, and are based on a sample of 1500 adult Atlantic Canadians, conducted from May 8 to May 30, 2013, with overall results accurate to within ± 2.5 percentage points, 95 out of 100 times.

For more information, please contact: Don Mills, Chairman and CEO at (902) 493-3838 Margaret Brigley, President and COO at (902) 493-3830